Electric iron



May 15, 1934- AJRUELLANU 1,958,592"

' ELECTRIC IRON Filed July 2; 1932 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

several positions.

CFI

Patented May 175, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

The present invention is generally concerned with ironing and moreparticularly relates to a functionally and structurally improved ironhaving an adjustable handle which may be locked in In certain aspectsthe invention includes improvements although not exclusively upon theconstruction for pressing and ironing disclosed in my application SerialNo. 526,614, filed March 31, 1931 in which the handle of the iron may beswung from one position to another by first operating a set screw devicecooperatively associated with a handle connecting member and itselectrode receiving boss disposed therein. In other certain'aspects,although the invention is not limited to being merely an improvementupon the ironing and pressing embodiment disclosed in said application,an object thereof resides in the provision of an ironing device having ahandle which may be quickly released from a set position and swung toan-l other predetermined position for automatic locking thereof.

A4 further object comprehends the provision of I a trigger arrangementhaving a manipulating portion disposed within close proximity to thebody of the handle, which portion may be conveniently operated to permitthe handle to be quickly swung towards another predetermined positionfor self locking. l A

A further object of the invention is to provide .a device of thecharacter referred to comprising a heating element disposed in apressing arrangement formed of upper and lower complementary platesections one of which includes a pair of terminals or electrodeselectrically associated with the heating element, which terminals areproperly insulated from and extend through an elevated portion or bossdisposed on the upper section, the boss being provided with a curvedpassageway or groove to guide an interlocking part of a trigger memberas the handle is swung and including cut away portions or openings forreceiving the interlocking part to prevent a connecting member to whichthe handleis rigidly mounted and to which the trigger is pivotallysustained from turning.

Other objects and in part obvious are in part pointed out hereinafter.

The present invention will be best 'understood from the followingdiscussion of several typical structural embodiments, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing in which:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electric iron illustrating two setand locked positions of the handle, one position being indicated in fulllines and the other in dash and dot lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the iron showing partsthereof in section.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line A-A 65 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4 shows one manner of mounting the iron on a stand.

Fig. 5 shows the iron mounted on the top plate of the stand.

Fig. 6 shows the iron mounted between the upper and lower plates of thestand.

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modication of thelocking mechanism and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the handleillustrating the manipulating portion of the trigger disposed in arecess thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the iron is generally designated 10 andcomprises upper and rlower complementary plates 11 and 12 forming apocket within which is appropriately conned an electric coil or heatingelement 13. The lower plate is provided on its bottom side 14 with asmooth and flat surface, which surface may be conveniently utilized forpressing and/or other uses requiring a heated surface. The upper andlower plates may be suitably connected together bi fastening members,such as screws 15 or the li e.

The ends 16 and 17 of the heating element are connected to the freeterminals or posts 18 and 19 which are properly insulated from eachother and from the metal upstanding cylindrical boss or elevation 20extending from the upper plate 11.

The boss 20 includes a recess 21 through which the electrodes extend,the gage of the recess being such as to properly receive a plug (notshown) having the usual sockets for electrical contact with theupstanding electrodes to render the heating coil effective when the plugis connected to a suitable source of electrical energy.

A circular groove or passageway 22 is provided on the lower portion ofthe boss. This groove guides a cylindrical projection or flnger 23 of atrigger device of a locking mechanism generally denoted 24.

The trigger device includes a lever 25 which has an intermediate portionpivotally connected at 26 to lugs 27 projecting outwardly from andcarried by the depending cylindrical hollow housing or connecting sleevebroadly denoted 28.

Suitably disposed in a recess at one end of the lever is a helicoidalspring 29. This spring also has one end thereof bearing against aportion of the outer face of the housing and thus normally urges theupper portion of the lever away from and yits lower portion towards thehousing.

'Associated with the upper part of the lever is a free manipulatingportion 29. In the form according to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, themanipulating portion is clear of the handle 30 from which the housing orskirt 28 depends and to which it is rigidly fastened. With theembodiment disclosed in Fig. 8, the manipulating portion is arrangedwith the recess 3l of the handle to preclude any possibility ofaccidental displacement thereof during the operation of pressing.However, with the form according to Fig. 8, although the manipulatingportion of the trigger is inaccessible for accidental operation, accesslthereto nevertheless may be conveniently had for operating the lockingmechanism.

The sleeve or connecting member 28 is a hollow cylindrical member andloosely encompasses or surrounds the cylindrical boss 20. Face or side32 of the housing is relatively shorter than its sides 33. Rigidlyattached to the upper portion of the larger face 33 is the handle 30.Therefore if .the handle 30 is swung or shifted the housing turns bodilytherewith. Handle 30 embodies a longitudinal and axially disposedchannel 34 which registers with opening 35 in the upper portion of theside 33. If desired lan electrical cord may be passed through the hollowhandle for electrical engagement with the terminal posts 18 and 19.

Side 33 of the housing also includes an opening 36 and the boss 20 isprovided with diametrically opposed recesses or openings 37 and 38.Normally spring 29 urges nger 23 of the locking mechanism into theopening 36 of the housing. In the locked position of the handle, finger23 extends into one of the recesses 37 or 38 of the boss and thusoverlaps a portion of the sides thereof, which sides prevent relativerotation of the housing with respect to the boss.

When locked the handle may be in either of the positions illustrated inFig. 1. .In the full vline position, the free portion of the handle hasbeen swung as to extend above the upper plate of the iron. Where it isdesired to shift the handleto its dot and dash line position to extendlaterally of the iron, the manipulating portion 29 is lifted upwardlyagainst the action of spring 29. This causes the cylindrical projectionor finger 23 to clear and be free of the sides of the recess 38.Consequently, the handle may be swung in an arc. This also causes thehousing to rotate or swivel relative to or about the boss. Duringthistime, however, finger 23 is guided in the curved channel 22 untilthe other recess 37 is met at which time, flnger 23 automatically, by

reasonof the action of the spring 29',snaps into position or linterlocks with the sides of recess 37. In other words all that isrequired to adjust the handle from one position to another involves theoperation of lifting the trigger member and subsequently turning thehandle until the trigger snaps into position with one of theinterlocking recesses of the boss. f

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the free portion of the handle has beenswung and locked in a position as to extend to one side of the iron,which portion is appropriately disposed in a stand generally denoted 40and of the type disclosed in United States Patent 1,708,957 as topresent the bottom face 14 of the iron towards the operator for pressingdelicate fabrics or the like.

In Fig. 5, the iron in accordance with the invention, is shown mountedon the top plate of the stand.` In Fig. 6 the iron is mounted betweenthe upper and lower plate of the stand.

With the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 2, the interlocking finger part ofthe trigger locking mechanism is in the form ofl a cylindrical postwhich cooperates with a cylindrical recess to-prevent relative rotationof the housing with respect to the boss or the complementary upper andlower plates 11 and 12 which form the presser means. The invention itshould be understood is not merely limited to this form of constructionfor a similar purpose. For example, the trigger kmay be provided,instead of a cylindrical post, with a tapered rib as 50 which cooperateswith recess having tapered sides 51 associated with the boss 20.

Since many changes may be made in the above methods of operation andmany apparently widely' different embodiments of the invention could bedevised without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawing should be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of, pressermeans, an elevational portion carried thereby and including plugengaging terminals, a handle, means depending from the handle androtatably associated with said elevational portion, and locking meansvertically mounted on said depending means having a free overhangingmanipulating portion adapted to be operated by a finger of the handgrasping the handle for releasing said locking means to turn the handleand another portion detachably interconnected with the elevation portionto prevent rotation of the handle with respect to said presser means.

2. In a device of the class described, the com-` bination of, pressermeans, an elevational portion carried thereby and including plugengaging terminals, a handle, means depending from the handle androtatably associated with said elevational portion, and trigger meanscarried by the depending means and having a manipulating portion adaptedto be operated by a finger of the hand grasping said handle and anotherportion removably interconnected with said elevational portion. f

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of, pressermeans, an elevational portion carried thereby and including plugengaging spaced terminals, a heating element within said presser meansand electrically connected to said terminals, a handle, means dependingfrom the handle and, loosely surrounding the elevational portion, andlocking means pivotally carried by the depending means and having a partinter presser means and connected to the terminals, a handle, meansdepending from` thef handle and surrounding the elevational portieriAand means pivotally carried by the depending means to prevent rotationof the handle relative to the elevational portion or presser means andincluding a manipulatable portion adapted to be operated by a finger ofthe hand grasping said handle.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of, pressermeans, an elevational portion carried thereby andyincluding plugengaging spaced terminals, a heating element connected to the terminals,a handle including a sleeve surrounding said portion and rotatablyassociated therewith, and a locking member pivoted to said sleeveadapted to be operated by a linger of the hand grasping said handle andhaving means to interlock with or disengage from the elevational portionto prevent or permit rotation `oi? the handle with respect to saidpresser means.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of, pressermeans, an elevational portion carried thereby and including plugengaging spaced terminals, a heating element mounted on the pressermeans and connected to the terminals, a handle, means depending from thehandle and surrounding said portion, and a locking device pivotallymounted on said depending means comprising an interlocking part adaptedto enter'- said elevational portion to prevent rotation of the handlewith respect to the presser means, and a laterally extendingmanipulating part for releasin g said interlocking part from saidportion for swinging the handle to another position, said laterallyextending manipulating part being adapted to be operated by a finger ofthe hand grasping said handle.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of, pressermeans, an elevational portioncarried thereby and including plug engagingvspaced terminals, a heating element associated with the presser meansand connected to the terminals, a handle, means depending yfrom thehandle and surrounding said portion, a member pivoted to the dependingmeans, means normally urging a part of said member for interconnectionwith the elevational portion, anda manipulator carried by the member fordisconnecting said part from said elevational portion to permit rotationof the handle relative to said presser means, said manipulator beingadapted to be operated by a linger of the hand grasping said handle.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of, pressermeans, an elevational portion carried thereby and including plugengaging spaced terminals, a heating element connected to the terminals,a handle having a sleeve surrounding said portion, the latter includinga groove and a plurality of openings, a locking member pivotally carriedby said sleeve and havingv a projection interlocking with one of saidopenings to prevent rotation of the handle relative'to the pressermeans, a spring acting against the locking member to retain theprojection interlocked, said locking member comprising a manipulator 'toremove the projection out of its opening and permit rotation of thehandle about the pr ser means and the projection along said grofoffsorinterconnection of the projection with an ther opening of saidplurality, said manipulator being adapted to be operated by a finger ofthe hand grasping said handle.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of, presser meanshaving a heating element and including an elevational portion, a handlehaving a sleeve surrounding' said portion and rotatably associatedtherewith, said portion including a groove and a plurality of openings,plug engaging spaced terminals associated With the elevational portionand electrically connected to the heating element, a locking memberhaving an intermediate part thereof pivotally connected to said sleeve,said member comprising a projection for interconnection with one of saidopenings, a spring acting against said intermediate part to retain saidprojection interlocked, the locking member having a free manipulator forreleasing the projection out of its opening for rotating the handleabout the presser means and the projection along said groove for selfinterconnection of the projection with another opening of saidplurality, said manipulator being adapted to be operated by a finger ofthe hand grasping said handle.

10. The device in accordance with claim 8 characterized in that saidprojection is cylindrical.

ll. The device in accordance with c laim 8 further characterized in thatsaid projection is tapered.

l2. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a pressermeans having a heating element, an elevational portion carried therebyand including spaced plug engaging terminals electrically associatedwith said element, a handle including a sleeve surrounding said portion,and a locking member pivoted to and carried by said sleeve and having apart normally interconnected with said elevational portion and-aliftable overhanging extension for releasing said part from saidportion, said extension being adapted to be operated by a finger of thehand grasping said handle.

13. The device according to claim 6 in which the handle includes arecess, and the manipulating part is disposed within said recess.

